The Lord of the Rings – The Theme Park
Signum University, in partnership with the Dol Amroth – Florida Tolkien Society Smial, invites you to join us on Saturday, 6 March for Sunshine Moot 2027. This hybrid event will take place at the Drury Plaza Hotel Orlando – Disney Springs Area in Orlando, FL, USA. For our return to the Sunshine State, we invite you to join us for a fun, all-day workshop experience where we will create, “The Lord of the Rings – The Theme Park”.
Register Here for Sunshine Moot!
- $60.00 USD for In-Person Attendance
- $30.00 USD for Remote Attendance
Enjoy complimentary breakfast, popcorn & soft drinks, and dinner (Drury Inn’s ‘Kickback’ Meal) with your Sunshine Moot ticket!
There is no Call for Proposals for Sunshine Moot.
Forget a dark ride or roller coaster. Forget a simple walkthrough. For one day in Orlando, the very heart of the theme park universe, we aren’t just going to visit Middle-earth.
We’re going to build it. Together.
Join us for an ambitious, all-day collaborative workshop where we will step into the roles of “Imagineers of the West” and design a complete, fully-realized theme park based on Tolkien’s legendarium from the ground up. Working alongside fellow fans, artists, and special industry guests from the theme park world, you will help solve the ultimate Tolkien design challenge: How do you translate the depth, beauty, and even terror, of the legendarium into a tangible, interactive, and thrilling guest experience for the public?
Topics to discuss and decide could include:
- The E-Ticket Debate: Pitch your vision for the signature attraction. Will it be a white-knuckle Eagle flight with Dwarves in tow flying to Mirkwood Forest? A slow, haunting boat ride through the rivers of Lothlórien? Or a trackless dark ride through the Mines of Moria where the Balrog chases you across the Bridge of Khazad-dûm?
- Logistics of Magic: We will tackle the “hard” questions. Are there “second breakfast” stands? Is The Green Dragon a quick-service restaurant or a full, sit-down tavern with live entertainment? Do you use a virtual queue for the Cracks of Doom? Should the Council of Elrond be a theatrical experience, or one scene in a dark ride? Or not even seen at all?
- The Uncomfortable Problems: We will honestly address challenges. Should a theme park handle themes of death, corruption, and war? How do you balance what the general public will want and expect from this theme park compared to what hardcore Tolkien fandom will want? Can you please both sides, or do you have to compromise for the greater good?
What You Will Create:
By the end of the day, we will produce a shared “Park Bible”, a document complete with a map, attractions, shows, dining concepts, and a logistical blueprint. You will walk away with new friends, fantastic conversations, and a tangible piece of collaborative creativity. Whether you are a hardcore textual scholar, a theme park super-fan, an artist, a writer, or simply someone who believes that “not all those who wander are lost” (especially if you’ve booked your Express Pass ahead of time), you belong here.
Come to Orlando. Pack your imagination. Let’s build a realm where the magic is real… and the lines are mercifully short.
